Hearts: Ryan Stevenson's goal is clear . .

ONE aspect of Ryan Stevenson's midfield repertoire remains repressed more than seven months since his transfer from Ayr United. His visionary passing has impressed in a Hearts shirt, his relentless energy and workrate unquestionable. What he requires now is goals.

In exactly 100 appearances over two-and-a-half seasons at Somerset Park, the 26-year-old scored 30 times. That's an average of almost one goal every three games. He has hitherto been unable to transfer that vulture-like prowess to Tynecastle, and after 13 appearances, has yet to ripple any Premier League rigging. It remains at the forefront of his mind ahead of tomorrow's visit to Celtic Park.

"I hit the crossbar early on against Dundee United two weeks ago. Nothing seems to be falling for me just now," said Stevenson. "The manager and Billy have already said that once I get a goal then more will start to come. It was a big part of my game at Ayr. I managed to score goals regularly throughout my time there.

"I maybe just need one to hit off my backside or the back of my head and go in. It's at the front of my mind just now because scoring was a lot to do with my game for Ayr. It does start to play on your mind and I want to get one sooner rather than later. I just have to try and be patient."

To the player's credit, confidence levels are unaffected. He chats openly about his desire to score and displays an assurance which belies someone fresh out of lower-league football. Inwardly, he knows he has the talent to thrive at Hearts after initially taking time to find his top-flight feet.

A two-match suspension precluded him from the start of the new campaign and he has been deployed as an auxiliary second striker in the two games since. Stevenson, though, knows where he operates best. Hearts' courting of Craig Bryson throughout the summer illustrated manager Jim Jefferies' desire for an attack-minded midfielder, a role Stevenson believes he is perfect for.

"I like to go forward more than I like to sit. That's what I've done at previous clubs and I've always been that type of player," he continued. "Going forward is one of my main attributes but, if the manager asked me to play centre-back, I'd play centre-back.

"If he asks me to do that (play attacking midfield] then I'd like to go and do it. He's trying to bring in better players to improve the squad, that's what happens with a big team. You're going to have to fight for your place every week. But I like playing that position, I just need to wait and see what he asks me to do tomorrow.

"Midfield is my favourite position. I played up front two or three times with Ayr but that was the full extent of it. It's not like I was playing as a striker all the time there, I was in midfield 95 per cent of the time. I would only move up if someone was injured or suspended.

"For the same reasons I've been asked to go and play up front for Hearts and I'm quite happy to do that. If the manager wants me there I'm quite prepared to, but my preferred position would be midfield. When you're with a club like Hearts you've got to be prepared to play anywhere to get a game. Wherever I'm asked to play, I'll give 120 per cent."

It is that appetite which has endeared him to Hearts supporters, and applying yourself properly is a prerequisite for any player under the command of Jefferies. Clearly, Stevenson is highly thought of. He has started both matches since serving the aforementioned ban and is certain to be named in tomorrow's first XI for a game which sees Hearts pit themselves against Neil Lennon's title contenders. "It's been hard being suspended for the first two games. I played against Elgin and then Dundee United and I think we've been playing well as a team since the season started, so we need to take that into tomorrow. It's great to be going to Parkhead in front of so many fans and playing on the biggest stages in Scottish football, but I want to get my head down and do well for Hearts.

"Every time you play Rangers or Celtic you judge yourself because they are the best in Scotland. You're facing the best players so tomorrow is a marker to show how far we've come. With this squad, we can definitely take something from the game."

Stevenson admits he took time to adapt to SPL football at first and is only now finding his feet. Recollections of his last visit to Celtic Park in February bring back memories of a whirlwind period in his career.

"Realising I was going to make my Hearts debut at Parkhead was a massive thing for me because I was due to be playing for Ayr against Brechin on the Wednesday," he said. "To go from that to playing Celtic at Parkhead was massive for me, a great experience.

"Having a few months to settle in here last season really helped me. You grow accustomed to things and you begin to put the occasion to the back of your mind. I'll treat tomorrow as just another game because if you get too involved it can affect your game.

"From January until the end of the season that's what it was like for me. I was going to Parkhead, Pittodrie and it was like 'this is a lot bigger than where I was playing'. I was taking it all in but I'm used to it now.

"Coming to Hearts from a team like Ayr United is a big culture shock. Ayr are part-time and then you come to a team I regard as the third biggest in Scotland.

"It's a big change to arrive somewhere like this; to be training at a training centre this size when I was used to training in public parks. The last five or six months have been really different, I've just tried to get used to it every day.

"I can't come into the training ground every day and be taken aback by it, I have to put that to the back of my mind. Every single day has been great. This is somewhere I love to come and work. Not a lot of people actually like their job so I'm happy that I love my work and I'm loving being here."

A goal would make life all the more enjoyable, especially if it helped Hearts achieve a result tomorrow.